Which of the following is an example of a quantitative protocol?

• A. Thickness map
• B. Color map
• C. False color scale
• D. Infrared image

Answer: (A)

Being quantitative means you obtain numerical measurements that you can analyze, compare to normatives, and track over time. A thickness map is created by segmenting the relevant retinal layers and calculating the distance between boundaries at many points across the image, giving a thickness value at each location (in micrometers). This provides actual numbers that quantify thinning or thickening and enable precise comparisons and monitoring, which is the essence of a quantitative protocol.

The other options are primarily visual representations. A color map conveys data values with color to aid interpretation but does not, by itself, give you direct numeric thickness values at every point. A false color scale similarly encodes values with color for visualization. An infrared image shows reflectivity in grayscale and conveys structure visually rather than providing a numeric thickness measurement.